Harlequin Special Edition December 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: The Christmas Ranch\A Royal Christmas Proposal\The Lawman's Noelle by RaeAnne Thayne

Author:RaeAnne Thayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“You know this wasn’t the wisest thing for us to do,” he said. “I don’t want anything to damage your reputation. I’m not concerned about my own situation—”

“Oh, stop being a saint and stop trying to play my big brother when you’re my lover,” she said.

“I’m not trying to play your big brother,” he told her. “But it’s my job to protect you.”

Sighing, she pushed her hair behind her ear. “It’s lovely of you to protect me, but I’d rather you make love to me.”

“But you need to make a decision. Do you want to keep this between you and me? Or do you want it public?”

Frowning, she sighed again. “I actually don’t want anyone in my business. I don’t want anyone studying Leo. I don’t want anyone analyzing you and me under a microscope. It’s strange, but I feel protective of my relationship of you and me. Do we need a contract for this?” she asked.

He gave a rough chuckle and pulled her against him. “No.” He slid his fingers through her hair and rubbed his mouth against hers. “No contract. This is just between you and me,” he said, then he made love to her again.

At 2:00 a.m., she awakened to silence and listened for the sound of Leo. It took a few moments for her to realize that she was in Treat’s bed and man cave. She sat up. “I need to go,” she whispered.

Treat slid his hand over her arms. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to check on Leo. I can’t hear if he’s crying. I can’t hear if he’s okay,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s okay,” he said, rising. “Let me walk you to the cottage.”

Both of them dressed. It felt odd to Ericka to put on her now crumpled formal gown. She ran her fingers through her hair. “Hopefully Nanny won’t be up for my walk of shame, although I’m actually quite proud. How am I going to hide my feelings from Nanny?” Ericka asked him. “She’s so intuitive.”

“It’ll be okay. Just don’t discuss it,” he told her as he escorted her from his suite. “She’s too discreet to ask.”

“That’s true,” she said. “Otherwise I would blab on and on about my feelings.

“Brush your teeth,” he suggested.

“What?” she asked then covered her mouth. “Is my breath bad?”

“No,” he said. “Just tell her you need to brush your teeth because there was too much garlic in the appetizers. She’ll run. Who wants to smell too much garlic?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you sure I don’t smell like garlic?”

He lowered his mouth and gave her a soulful, thorough kiss then pulled back. “What do you think?”

“Guess not,” she said, and flung her arms around his neck. “Oh, I want to stay with you, but I need to check on Leo.”

He returned her embrace. “I’m here. Not going anywhere.”

Ericka slumped against him for one luxurious moment, and then pulled back. “Good night,” she said as she walked into the cottage.

Closing the door quietly behind her, she stood in the foyer and listened.

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